Pleasant experience with Thai police yesterday

[Thaimike370]

I have lived in Thailand for eight years, I have been stopped several times at road checkpoints never ever had a problem. I drove the wrong way down a one way street, I did not see the sign, at the end of the road there was a policeman who stopped me. I explained I did not see the sign, he said where you from, I said England, he said Manchester United, with a big Thai smile, I said no Oxford, I was asked if I liked Thailand, when I said yes, I got a salute and waived on my way. In my case, every contact with the police I have found them to be polite, helpful and friendly.

[chiang mai]

It seems those who have been stopped many times by the police over the years have had good experiences.

Are they that bad at driving they give the police the chance to stop them so often ?

In over 30 years of driving in England I have been stopped in a car a total of never.

Maybe the police in England don't feel the need to stop cars for no reason while those in Thailand do. Who knows.

Unlike the UK, Thailand has a series of road check/blocks all over the North, especially in the mountains and near the borders with Myanmar and Laos, these are manned with police and army looking for people and drug smugglers - some, especially those on the road from Doi Tung to Mae Sai even have sandbagged machine gun emplacements nearby.

A drive from Chiang Mai to the Golden Triangle and back will see the average car stopped/checked/waved through, on a bad day, around eight times. Now I know that Chiang Mai to the Golden Triangle is not the same as driving from Tunbridge Wells to Eastbourne but please, do try and use some common sense in your arguments!

[jacko45k]

That worked out well. All to often you hear of the police acting as mediators in compensation amounts and expecting a commission.

[onemorechang]

A drive from Chiang Mai to the Golden Triangle and back will see the average car stopped/checked/waved through, on a bad day, around eight times. Now I know that Chiang Mai to the Golden Triangle is not the same as driving from Tunbridge Wells to Eastbourne but please, do try and use some common sense in your arguments!

That will be Royal Tunbridge wells.

If you don't mind.

Thank you.

[crutchy26]

I have had several goods experiences, I smile at' the locals BiB, wind down my window & greet them in my best Thai greeting.. They know I am legit (licenses , rego & Insurance)/

However, quite a few times I have been stopped by a 'floating roadblock' between Chaiyahpum & Keng Khro.

Four times in 2 years, times they have tried to 'shake me down' for a 400 baht fine. Apparently for not driving in left lane. Which is absolute BS.........

No money has changed hands, & one of the elder 'crunchies' was feeling up my young GF, as I was have a one-sided fracas with the head of the group.

Will it happen again? No doubt. Gotta get a recorder for the car!

[tropo]

What I found out with Thai people, if you treat them good, they treat you better.

Perhaps you've been lucky or your glasses are rose coloured.

I'm in the "no good deed goes unpunished" camp.

[tropo]

In my 50 years here, I have had many, many road stops in my car and have been in many other situations where police needed to be involved.

Not once - ever - was I treated unfairly or felt victimised. I have been fined when I was wrong but that was always fairly handled.

Am I just lucky or do some others over dramatise a second hand less positive story, or is something else at play here ?

Yes, you have been lucky.

[oxforddon]

craig3365, my experiences span all those years but did not all happen all those years ago cheers

[craigt3365]

craig3365, my experiences span all those years but did not all happen all those years ago cheers

Maybe it's just me, but I do feel things have changed over the years. Sadly, not for the better!

[Rimmer]

Troll post and replies removed

[oxforddon]

craig3365, yes things have changed in both the type of expat visitor and resident and the responses of local police. Reaction to escalating bad behaviour no doubt ?

[tropo]

craig3365, yes things have changed in both the type of expat visitor and resident and the responses of local police. Reaction to escalating bad behaviour no doubt ?

LOL. Let's blame the visitors and expat residents. It's all their fault, no doubt?

[chiang mai]

In part, yes, more visitors, more problems. And let's face it, today's younger visitor is hardly from the genteel Victorian mould!

[tropo]

In part, yes, more visitors, more problems. And let's face it, today's younger visitor is hardly from the genteel Victorian mould!

I'll agree that high density tourist/expat areas attract more scum from all over the country... the sex trade escalates that problem... but it's not the visitors' behaviour that is responsible, only the fact that they are there.

[chiang mai]

In part, yes, more visitors, more problems. And let's face it, today's younger visitor is hardly from the genteel Victorian mould!

I'll agree that high density tourist/expat areas attract more scum from all over the country... the sex trade escalates that problem... but it's not the visitors' behaviour that is responsible, only the fact that they are there.

Yes and no, tourist behavior in the past few years hasn't exactly improved so perhaps a combination of both.

[Tolley]

The sad fact is that Thailand is a very corrupt country where the locals rip each other off regularly and the rule of law often extends to what connections you have and how much money you got.

There is little in the way of real law enforcement with the police and army and involved in all sorts of nefarious activities.

Tourists were once treated as a bit special or as an novelty but those days are long gone.

These days tourists/expats are not immune to a lot of the darker aspects of thai society and behaviour.

From my perspective best to avoid any dealing whatsoever with any authorities in Thailand if you can help it other than the obligatory requirements.

[bow]

I agree.

I have 14 years living in Thailand. Only once (1) have I been forced to pay bribes to the police. (No, I will not share any details.)

Police have always been polite, friendly and helpful. And it's not about not speaking Thai. I do speak Thai, and it has made things easier, not more difficult.

[tropo]

In part, yes, more visitors, more problems. And let's face it, today's younger visitor is hardly from the genteel Victorian mould!

I'll agree that high density tourist/expat areas attract more scum from all over the country... the sex trade escalates that problem... but it's not the visitors' behaviour that is responsible, only the fact that they are there.

Yes and no, tourist behavior in the past few years hasn't exactly improved so perhaps a combination of both.

In the 10 years I've been here I haven't seen any deterioration in expat behaviour either. Due to the tightening up of visa regulations and policy, making it harder for under 50's to stay long term, it has probably improved if anything.

In Pattaya there has been a huge increase in genuine tourists - couples and families. IMO they've diluted the rough elements in Pattaya and it has become more tame. Walking Street is a lot tamer than it used to be.

I'd say the local media are finding it tough to find interesting stories.

I was at the Soi 9 police station for 2 hours on the evening of January 1 - the place was deserted for the whole time I was there.

[berybert]

It seems those who have been stopped many times by the police over the years have had good experiences.

Are they that bad at driving they give the police the chance to stop them so often ?

In over 30 years of driving in England I have been stopped in a car a total of never.

Maybe the police in England don't feel the need to stop cars for no reason while those in Thailand do. Who knows.

Unlike the UK, Thailand has a series of road check/blocks all over the North, especially in the mountains and near the borders with Myanmar and Laos, these are manned with police and army looking for people and drug smugglers - some, especially those on the road from Doi Tung to Mae Sai even have sandbagged machine gun emplacements nearby.

A drive from Chiang Mai to the Golden Triangle and back will see the average car stopped/checked/waved through, on a bad day, around eight times. Now I know that Chiang Mai to the Golden Triangle is not the same as driving from Tunbridge Wells to Eastbourne but please, do try and use some common sense in your arguments!

Sorry my mistake. I forgot there are no drugs in the UK. Easy mistake to make.

[CoreanoOzzie]

craig3365, yes things have changed in both the type of expat visitor and resident and the responses of local police. Reaction to escalating bad behaviour no doubt ?

LOL. Let's blame the visitors and expat residents. It's all their fault, no doubt?

A lot of the time it is. Facts are facts.

[tropo]

craig3365, yes things have changed in both the type of expat visitor and resident and the responses of local police. Reaction to escalating bad behaviour no doubt ?

LOL. Let's blame the visitors and expat residents. It's all their fault, no doubt?

A lot of the time it is. Facts are facts.

This is all subjective - there are no facts from which to draw conclusions.

[maanoi]

I'm sure this is the norm, but unfortunately we mostly here the negative experiences.

[balo]

I agree.

I have 14 years living in Thailand. Only once (1) have I been forced to pay bribes to the police. (No, I will not share any details.)

Police have always been polite, friendly and helpful. And it's not about not speaking Thai. I do speak Thai, and it has made things easier, not more difficult.

Same here , 5 years , never been asked for money by a police officer. They have always been friendly to me, but I drive with Thai license and all my papers are up to date.

[metisdead]

A nonsense post has been removed.